About Brazen Head Publishing

The Brazen Head (brazen refers to the old word for brass or bronze) crops up many times in medieval history but is most famously attributed to the thirteenth century philosopher and Franciscan Friar Roger Bacon.

Many writers of earlier times have been attracted to Roger Bacon as a Faustian figure - the epitome of great intellect as well as the custodian of esoteric knowledge. It is from some of these legends and stories that Bacon has been associated with a brazen head, a prophetic device in the form of a man's head that could correctly answer any question asked of it . In particular the play Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay which was written by Robert Greene (circa 1589) promoted this legend.

Roger Bacon, sometimes credited as one of the earliest European advocates of the modern scientific method, was educated and spent most of his life in Oxford not far from the home of Brazen Head Publishing. He is said to have worked in the tower on Folly Bridge which was known as Friar Bacon’s study and visited by Samuel Pepys in 1669. Friar Bacon's study which stood at the north end of the bridge until 1779 can be seen to the right.

About Brazen Head Publishing

Brazen Head Publishing is a small independent scientific publishers established in 2009 and based in Abingdon in England.

Our products and services include electronic and print versions of monographs, textbooks and reference works.

Brazen Head Publishing is dedicated to providing valuable, new resources in the biological sciences and the history of science for researchers, students, curators, collectors, historians, and anyone interested in the biological sciences and the development of science.

The mission of the Brazen Head Publishing is two-fold:

Firstly its principle concern is the publication of important innovative books on scientific research and the history of science. We pride ourselves not only on the quality of the published work but also maintaining that quality by providing comprehensively revised editions that keep pace with the rapid developments of contemporary research.
Secondly the press is dedicated to the scholarly translations of primary source material related to science and the history of science. These publications are new translations of works carefully selected but not widely known. These works provide an essential foundation for current researchers to build upon and explore new areas secure in their knowledge of their predecessors work.